Rising support



Feb. 2, 3. H. STARKS RISING SUPPORT Filed March (119,. 1241 5 4 HughBfarita Patented Feb. 2, 1943 msmc sorroar Hugh Starks, Grand Junction,0010., assignor of one-fifth'to Silmon L. Smith and one-fifth to CharlesM. Holmes, both of Grand Junction,

Colo.

Application March 19, 1941, Serial No. 384,183

4 Claims.

:' This invention relates to an automatic rising support for use inconnection with a tobacco can, and it is an object of the invention toprovide a device of this kind which may be readily placed within the canbelow the tobacco container or package in a folded condition and whichdevice, .as the container or package is raised within the can, willunfold in a manner to hold the container or ackage in its raisedposition.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kindcomprising a member provided with holding legs or props which, when thedevice is initially applied, are in folded or'collapsed position,together with retractile means for extending the legs or props intoeffective position when the container or package within the can israised, the extended legs or props co-acting with the can in a manner tomaintain the container or package in its raised position with respect tothe can.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein Figure 1 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly insection, illustrating a support constructed in accordance with anembodiment of my invention and in extended or supporting posi tion, thecontainer or package being partly lifted out of the can;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed sectional view showing thesupport in a collapsed condition and in its initial placement within thecan;

Figure 3 is a view in bottom plan of the device folded or collapsed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly inelevation, illustrating a support constructed in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention; and V Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectionalview taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing the improved attachmentcomprises an elongated flat body member I of cardboard or otherpreferred material. This member I is of such dimensions as to be snuglyfitted within a tobacco can C between the container or package P withinthe can C and the bottom 2 of the can. This member I may have printed orotherwise produced thereon advertising or other matter as may be desiredby the distributor. Each end portion of the member I is provided with ashort returned tab 3 in close contact with the adjacent end portion ofthe member I andmaintained in such position by a surrounding adhesivestrip 4, or otherwise as may be preferred.

The tabs 3 have their inner ends continued by the elongated "flat legsorprops 5 each of which readily swings on the'score line 6 separating theleg or prop from its tab 3. The free end portions ,of the legs or props5 are provided with the slits 1 in which are engaged the. end portionsof a retractile member 8 herein disclosed as an elastic band. Theintermediate portion of this member 8 is extended lengthwise across theupper or outer face of the member I whereby the member 8 is placed undersuch tension as to automatically swing the legs or props 5 downwardlyand outwardly to lift the member I as the container or package P israised within the can. These legs or props 5 as they swing outwardlyslide one upon the other and one upon the bottom 2 of the can C and whenthe lower or outer end portions of the legs or props 5 come into contactwith the edge walls 9 of the can C said legs or props 5 have each passedoutwardly beyond a vertical center and thus provide effective means forpreventing depression of the member I within the can C with a resultantlowering of the container or package P.

Initially the legs or props 5 are in close overlying relation and incompact position withrespect to the member-Hi. When the container orpackage P is placed within the can C the attachment is disposed over thebottom of the container or package and held in such position by a loopedstring or the like having its strands of a length to extend out beyondthe open end of the can C after the container or package P has beenfully inserted within the can C. After this operation the string or thelike can be readily drawn out, leaving the attachment in its desiredfolded or compact position within the can C between the bottom 2 of suchcan and the container or package P.

It is stated at this time that the means employed to allow for theproper placement of the attachment within the can forms no part of thepresent invention and it is, therefore, to be understood that any meansmay be employed to facilitate the proper effective placing of theattachment.

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 theunderlying tabs II] at the end portions of the elongated member II aremaintained in desired position by the staples l2. Extendinglongitudinally over the upper or outer face of the member I I at thetransverse center thereof and underlying the staples I2 is a light wirestrand M which extends beyond the opposite ends of the member I I.Suitably anchored or secured to these extended end portions of thestrand M are the retractile members l5 herein disclosed as coil springs.fI'hese members .are also secured, as at .16, to the upper end portionsof the wire strands ll which extend along the lower outer faces of thelegs or props l8 and are suitably anchored, as at [9, to said legs orprops I8.

With the use of either of the embodiments of the invention is hereindisclosed it is believed to be obvious that when the smoker pulls up thetobacco package or container within the can to facilitate having accessto the tobacco in the lower portion of the container or package, as is awell-known custom, the legs 5 or 18 will automatically swing outward andthereby raise the member I or the member H, whereby either of suchmembers will effectively support the raised container or package oftobacco.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adaptedfor use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it maybeassembled and operated.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a support for a package when liftedwithin a can comprising an elongated member for placement within the canbetween the bottom wall thereof and the applied package, returned tabsat the opposite end portions of the member and in close contacttherewith from below and extending a material distance inwardly from theends of the elongated member, means for maintaining the tabs in suchpositions, props in swinging connection with the inner extremities ofthe tabs, said props being closely folded one with respect to the otherand with respect to the member when the device is initially appliedwithin the can between the bottom of the can and the package therein,and means for swinging the props away from the member and away from eachother to raise the member when the package within the can is lifted.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a support fora package when liftedwithin a can comprising an elongated member for placement within the canbetween the bottom wall thereof and the applied package, returned tabsat the opposite end portions of the member and in close contacttherewith from below and extending a material distance inwardly from theends of the elongated member, means for maintaining the tabs in suchpositions, props in swinging connection with the inner extremities ofthe tabs, said props being closely folded one with respect to the otherand with respect to the member when the device is initially appliedwithin the can between the bottom of the can and the package therein,and means for swinging the props away from the member and away from eachother to raise the member when the package within the can is lifted, themember, tabs and props comprising a single length of material.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a device for supporting a packagewhen raised within a can comprising a member to be placed between thebottom of the can and the package therein. swinging props carried by theopposite end portions of the member, said props being folded to lie oneclosely adjacent to the other and adjacent to the member when the deviceis applied within the can, and a retractile member disposed lengthwiseover the upper face of the member and extending over the outer faces ofthe props and secured to the outer end portions of the props forswinging said props into extended position to raise the member when thepackage within the can is lifted.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a device for supporting a packagewhen raised within a can comprising a member to be placed between thebottom of the can and the package therein, swinging props carried by theopposite end portions of the member, said props being folded to lie oneclosely adjacent to the other and adjacent to the member when the deviceis applied within the can, a member extending lengthwise of thefirst-named member and overlying the outer face thereof, and retractilemembers secured to the extremities of the second member and to the outerend portions of the props for swinging said props into extended positionto raise the member when the package within the can is lifted.

HUGH STAR'KS.

